Spacing apparatus



Feb. 6, 1940. H. J. CRINER 2,189,199

SPACING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 3, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l 77 5 INVENTOR.

BY d0? M Feb. 6, 1940.

H. J/CRINER SPACING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 5, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 6, 1940 v U s' A-rssjmEt-r omq v I 7 Harry J Criner, Davenport, Iowa, assignor 01' onehalf to A. pGLBush, Davenport, Iowa Application September a, 1938, SeriallNo. 223,431

Claims. (Cl. 146 -153) I My invention relates to improvements in. spacing apparatus and the objects of my invention. are to provide an improved means for adjustably spacing the blades of bread slicingorlother ma 5 chines which may be applied to either reciprocating machines or band blademachinesand may also be utilized as a mechanical movement whereever adjustable variable .spacing of partsisre quired. Also, to provide apparatus by which 1o partsmay be adjustablyfspaced at either a fixed maximum or minimum distance apart as well at an intermediate pcintbetween such minimum and maximum. Other objects will appear from my description. a I 15, I attain these objects byithe means illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, inwhich Figure l is an horizontal section on the line l-- l ofFi gure 2; I 11.

Figure 2 is. a vertical section on the line Z-Z 20.01" Figure 1; I y I I Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional detail showing the upper tubular member and connected I parts on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 i an enlarged sectional detail. of a I -1 portion. of the upper tubular memberand ineluded parts; I I a Figure 5 is an enlarged detail of an alternate form of linkage'showing; a portion of the upper member in; section;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail i showing an alternate form of means ioradjusting relative spacing. of the carrierpins; v I

Figure 7 is an end elevation oi Figure 6f l Figure 8 is an enlarged detail end view oi one of the carrier pins with the adjusting spr-ing and blade'in place; and i I p Figure 9 is an enlarged detail showing a portionof theadjustingibar, I

'My apparatus comprises upper and, lower tubular members i and 21spaced apartandheld rigidly in fixed relation byysidebars 3. mounted upon a suitable frame F,.lugs B or other suitable means of support; I i

In the case of reciprocating machinesthe sidebars 3 may be mounted for reciprocating vertical travel in the lugs B, and in the case of band-blade machines, they may be adjustably mounted in the lugs B andsecured in place by set screws'or. anyother desired means. The upperand lower members l and 2 are 50 preferably formed of rectangular tubes as shown in Figure 3-,;each having a front slot l8. open at one end of the tube. and extendingto within a short distance from the opposite end.

. Achain of the sprocketchain type is mounted I in the upper member. Each link of thischain;

comprises a pair of flat link-bars spacedapart and having their ends unitedby pivots i and El.

,The inner links are numbered l and the cuter;

links are numbered 5 as shown in Figure l. The

- theadjacent sidewalls of the upper; tubular mem- 5 front of said member.

her ll I io The innermost pivot of the chainis rigidly secured in place by an extension through an; opening in -the rearjwall of the tubular memberl.

For convenience, I have referred to the lower 15 wall of the tubularLmember I as beingthe floor and to the upper walla's shown in said Figure 1 as the ceiling; alsdtotheleit wall as 'shown in Figure 3 as the rear, and to: the right wall as the I i 20, The pivots l are all formed .of a length to fit closely but to slide freely within the sidewalls of the memberl. The pivot-shafts"or-carrier pins are also slideablvmounted in the tubular member; I but are formed with extensions 10 I which project outwardly through pslo't lll in not shown in the upper member but is in all respects similar to the slot Mil formed in. the

lower member z'as sho'wn in Figure Z.

The chain'is so'm'ounted withinthemember l that the side-links and 5 all stand at-an angle of approximately forty-five degrees to] the bot- 0 tom or floor and the pivots 9 or the rollers 8 I mounted thereon .allrest on the-floor of the member. 'Ihepivots l or the rollers ii .mounted thereon when in their closest adjustment bear against the ceiling or top of the member I and at their widest spacing the pivot] or rollers .6 I

stand'a short distance below the ceiling of. the member I as shown in Figure 4... i i The pivots 1 may be formed with the central portions thereof having substantiallythe diameter shown by therollers 6 as desired,but I prefer to use the rollers 6 and 8 to facilitate the movement of the chain lengthwise oithe member I, thus the floor and ceiling of the channelled mem- I her i may fix thelimit oi spacing movement of 5 the pivot extensions 10 and blades l3. I

InFigures 2, 3 and 4 I have shown additional ,flat links. and l I. mounted upon the pivots9 or roller-sleeves 8 between the'links A and 5 to limit movements within fixed limits.

these links have elliptical openings 12' which allow the desired movement of the pivots 9 either towards or away from each other and limit such When these additional links are used the sleeve rollers 6 need not contact the ceiling as a stop.

For ordinary purposes, a play of one-sixteenth of an inch for each of these sleeve-rollerstor pilvots 9 within its adjacent elliptical openings- 82' will be sufficient as the most popular thickness for slices of bread is one-half inch forwhite bread and three-eighths of an inch for dark breads, but it is obvious that greater or less play may be provided as desired.

In order to provide the necessary tension upon the slicing blades, I provide a fiat spring I5 withslotted ends, one end of which is adapted to seat in a notch l l'formed in the pivot-shaft l and the other end of which is formed with a hook l adapting it to embrace a pin l3 rigidly secured in one end of the blade l3. The ends of the springs l5 are slotted so as to straddle the blades l3 as shown in Figures? and 8. 3

The lower tubular member 2 corresponds in every way to the upper member I and carries a similar chain in a similar way but in reversed position, the pivots 9 being mounted adjacent the ceiling of the channel member and the pivots i being adjacent the lower part or floor of the member 2.

In Figure 5 I have shown an alternate form of' stop or detent to limit the spread of the pivots 9, which comprises an arm 4' formed integral, with side-link 4 and adapted to bear against thefloor of the member I so as to prevent the pivot I from descending any nearer to the floor and thus prevent any further spreading or lengthening of the chain.

In Figures 6, 7 and 9, I have shown alternate means for controlling and varying the spacing of the pivot extensions I0. ing the tubular member I integral with an extension l' in which a shaft or tube [8a is revolvably mounted, the outer end of which carries a transverse slot IBbby which same can be rotated by a screw driver or other. suitable tool.

A longitudinal slot I9 is cut in one side of the shaft la. The upper row of chain'pivots 6" are formed with extensions carrying rounded heads 6 formed integral with "the pivots 6". These heads ii extend into the groove l9. A set screw 25 is secured in the housing I, the inner end of which contacts the shaft IBa'to lock it in any given position.

With this form, when desired to widen the spacing of the blades 13 the set screw 26 is loosened and the shaft l8 turned in such a way as to force the pivots fif downwardly the desired distance and as the lower end of the links 4 and 5 or the rollers 8 are limited in their downward movement by the floor of the channel member I, the downward movement of the pivots 6? necessarily slides the pivots 8 apart carrying with them the extensions H] and the blades l3. When moved the desired distance, theset screw 26 is locked in place and the apparatus is ready for operation.

In this alternate form, the lower channel member is made to correspond with the upper one in all respects and in assembling them the shafts l8a are placed in the same relative position in the upper and lower members so that the direction of the screw-driver slot I81) can be used as a gauge to indicate corresponding positioning of the upper pivots 1.

75- When applied to reciprocating machines, two

This consists of form' sets of upper and lower tubular members I and 2 with their side-bars 3 are utilized and are faced in opposite directions so that the extensions I0 of one set will alternate'with the extensions ll) of the other set and the blades will reciprocate vertically with their cutting edges substantially pin a vertical plane.

When applied to band blade machines, two sets of channel members may be used with the extensions I 0 of one set alternating with the extensions of the other set and they may be apparatus may be made without departing from the spiritof my invention and I do not limit my claims to the precise forms shown in the drawings' I claim: l

1.In a bread slicing machine, a blade guiding assembly comprising parallel hollow rectangular upper and lower cross-members united at their ends by parallel sidebars, parallel longitudinal slots formed in the front and rear of the crossmembers the front slots extending from one end thereof nearly to the opposite end, and the rear slots extending lengthwise of said members from one end'a distance substantially equal to the sum of the desired travel of all the pivot-shafts in either series, separate series of pivot-shafts mounted in said cross-members, respectively, each pivot-shaft having an extension passing outwardly through its corresponding front slot and being slotted to receive a slicing blade, thelinner ends of said pivot-shafts forming alternate pivots of chains and being connected by fiat links to alternating pivots slidingly mounted within said cross-members respectively, the innermost pivot shaft ofeach series being rigidly units to its respective crossemember and the outermost pivot-' shafts of both series having their rear ends extended so as to pass through the rear slots, and handles united to the rear extensions of the outermost pivot-shafts of each series by which their position can be manually adjusted.

2. In a bread slicing machine, a blade guiding assembly comprising parallel hollow rectangular upper and lower cross-members united at their ends by parallel side-bars, parallel longitudinal front slots formed in the cross-members extending from one end thereof nearly to the opposite end, rear slots formed in the opposite sides of the cross-members, separate series of pivot-shafts mounted in said cross-members respectively, each pivot-shaft having a slotted extension-passing outwardly through its corresponding front slot to receive a slicing blade, the inner ends of said pivot-shafts forming the alternate pivots in chains being connected by flat links to additional pivots slidingly mounted within said cross-members respectively in alternation with the pivotshafts said pivot-shafts in each chain lying in a single horizontal plane and the alternating pivots lying in a sinnlar plane spaced above or below the plane of the pivot-shafts, the innermost pivot-shaft of each series being rigidly united to its respective cross-member and the'outermost pivot-shafts of both series having their rear ends extended so as to pass through the rear slots which extend lengthwise .of said members a distance substantially equal to the sum of the travel of all the pivot-shafts in either series, and handles united to the rear extensions of the outermost pivot-shafts by which they can be manually actuated.

3. In'ia bread slicing machine, a bladeguiding assembly comprising rectangular tubular upper and lower cross-members united at their ends-:by parallel sidebars, parallel longitudinal slots formed in. the fronts of the cross-members extending from one end thereof nearly to the op posite end, .a separate series of; pivot-shafts mounted in each of said cross-members having extensions passing outwardly through the front slots, said extensions being slotted to receive'the ends of the 'slicing'blades, the inner ends of :said pivot-shafts forming the alternate pivots of chains of the sprocket type, and being connected by flat links to additional pivots slidingly mounted within said cross members respectively in alternation with the pivot-shafts and lying in a horizontal plane spaced from thepivot-shafts, the innermost pivot-shaft or carrier pin of each series being rigidly united to its respective crossmemberand the outermostpivot-shafts of both series having their rear ends extended so as" to pass through additional slots formed in the rear,

of said cross-members parallel to the first mentioned longitudinal slots and extending lengthwise of' said members a distance substantially equal t0,the sum of the travel of all the pivotshafts in either series, and handles united to the rear extensions of the outermost pivot-shafts by which they canbe manually actuated lengthwise of the tubular members. i

4. In a bread slicingmachine, a blade guiding assembly comprising rectangular tubular upper and lower cross-members united at-their, ends by parallel sidebars, parallel longitudinal slots formed in the fronts of the crossmembersiextending from one end thereof nearly to the 0pposite end, a separate series of pivot-shafts mounted in each of said cross-members, having extensions passing outwardly through the front slots, said extensions being slotted to receive the ends of the slicing blades,"the. inner ends of said pivot-shafts forming the alternate pivots, of chains'of the sprocket type, and being connect ed by'flat links to additional pivots slidingly mounted within said cross-members respectively in alternation with the pivot-shafts and lying in:

a horizontal plane spacedfrom the pivot-shafts, the innermost pivot-shaft or carrier pin of each series being rigidly united to its respective cross- ,member in combination with tubular housings united to said cross-members, grooved shafts ro tatably mounted therein, and rounded heads united to the additional pivots and extending into the grooves of the shafts to be actuated thereby whereby the planes of saidadditionalpivots'may be raised or lowered.

5. In a bread slicing machine, a blade guiding assembly comprising rectangular tubular j'upper and lower cross-members united at their ends by parallel sidebars, parallel longitudinal slots formed in the fronts of the cross-members extending from one end thereof nearly to the opposite end, a separate series of pivot-shafts mounted in each of said cross-members, having extensions passing outwardly through the front slots, said extensionsbeing slotted to rei ceive the ends of the slicing blades, the inner ends of said pivot-shaftsforming the alternate pivots of chains of the sprocket type, and being connected by fiat links to additional pivots slidingly mounted within said cross-member s respectively in alternation with the pivot-shafts and, lying in a horizontal plane spaced from the pivot-shafts, the innermost pivot-shaft or carrier pin of each series being rigidly united to its dusted position therein.

respective cross-member in combination with tubular housings united to saidcross-members, grooved shafts and extending into the grooves of the shafts to be' actuated thereby whereby the planes of said additional pivots may be raised or lowered and rotatably mounted therein, I rounded heads united to the additional pivots" means for locking the rotatable shafts in various slots, said extensions being slotted to'receive the ends ofthe slicing blades, the inner ends of said pivot-shafts forming the alternate pivots of chains of the sprocket type,'and being connected by flat links to additional pivots slidingly mounted within said cross-members respectively in alternation with the pivot-shafts and lying in a horizontal plane spaced from the pivot-shafts,

the innermost pivot-shaft or carrier pin ofeach series being rigidly united to its respective cross-f member in combination with tubular housings united ,to said cross-members, grooved shafts rotatably mounted therein, rounded heads united to the additional pivots and extendinginto-the grooves of the shafts to be, actuated thereby whereby the planes of said additional pivots may be raised or lowered, and set screws threaded in l the housings to lock the rotatable v shafts in ad- "7'. In a bread slicing machine, the combination with a supporting framehaving aplurality of slicing blades mounted for longitudinal travel thereon, of blade guiding assemblies comprising parallel hollow rectangular upper and lower cross-members united at their ends by parallel sidebars" and having parallel front and rear slots formed therein, separate series of pivot-shafts mounted in said cross-members respectively, each pivotshaft having a slottedextension passing outwardly through the front slot to guide a slic v ingfblade, the inner ends of said pivot-shafts forming the alternate pivots of chains and being connected by fiat links to additional alternating pivots -'slidingly mounted within said cross-members respectively, the innermost pivot-shaft of each series being rigidly united to its respective cross-member and means united to the outermost pivot-shafts of both series to move same along" the c ross-membersa distance equal tothe sum of the travel of all the pivot-shafts in either series. s f

8. In a structure as described in claim '7, additional links connecting the successive pivot shafts'to each other but having extended openings therein to embrace the pivot-shafts which permit a limited movement of the pivot-shafts longitudinally of the links.

9. In a bread slicing machine, the combination with a supporting frame having a plurality 'of slicing blades mounted for longitudinal travel thereon, of blade carrying assemblies comprising parallel' hollow rectangular upper and lower cross-members united at their endsby parallel side bars and having parallel front and rear slots formed therein, separate series of pivot-shafts mounted in said cross-members respectively, each pivot-shaft having a slotted extension passing outwardly through the front slot to guide aslicing blade, the inner ends of said pivot-shafts forming the alternate pivots of the chains and being connected by flat links to additional alternating pivots slidingly mounted within said cross-members respectively, the innermost pivot-shaft of each series being rigidly united to its respective cross-member and means united to the outermost pivot-shafts of both series to move same along the cross-members a distance equal to the sum of the travel of all the pivotshaits in either series.

10. In a bread slicing machine, the combination with a supporting frame having a plurality of slicing blades mounted for longitudinal travel thereon, of bladejcarrying and spacing assemblies comprising parallel hollow rectangular upper and lower cross-members united at' their ends by parallel sidebars and having parallel front and rear slots formed therein, separate series of pivot-shafts mounted in said crossmembers respectively, each pivot-shaft having a slotted extension passing outwardly through the frontslot to guide a slicing blade, the inner ends of said pivot-shafts forming the alternate pivots of the chains and being connected by flat links to additional alternating pivots slidingly mounted within said cross-members respectively, the innermost pivot-shaft of each series being rigidly united to its respective cross-memberv means united to, the outermost pivot-shafts of both series to move same along the cross-members a distance equal to the sum of the travel of all the pivot-shafts in either series and resilient 1 means .to unite the ends of the blades to their respective carrying pivot-shafts.

11. A structure as described in claim 1, in combination with means to limit the gathering and the spreading movement of the pivot-shafts.

12. In a bread slicing machine, the combina tion' with a supporting frame having parallel slicing blades mounted for longitudinal travel therein, ofadjustable blade-spacing mechanism comprising a pair of chains of the sprocket type having alternate pivots extended beyond the links and slotted to receive the blades respectively, the alternate links of said chains having elongated pivot openings to permit variable spacing of the pivots therein, supporting means to carry said chains at parallel fixed levels, and means for spreading apart or gathering nearer together the blade-engaging pivots at fixed limits of travel.

13. A mechanical movement for longitudinally spacing a series of guiding or carrying members, comprising a tubular bar, a chain of thesprocket type slidingly mounted therein the alternate pivots of said chain having united thereto the guiding or carrying members in series, the alternate links of said chains having elongated pivot openings to permit variable spacing of the pivots therein, supports to carry said alternate pivots in a given plane, the intermediate pivots being arranged in a parallel plane spaced therefrom, and means as described to cause the planes of the intermediate pivots to app-roach toward or separate from the planes of the carrier pivots.

14 In a bread slicing machine, a support, a rectangular frame mounted for reciprocation in said support having tubular upper and lower crossbars, each of said bars carrying spacing apparatus as set out in claim 13.

15. In a spacing mechanism, a support, a multiple link sprocket type chain slidingly mounted thereon with alternate pivots adjacent the support and intermediate pivots adjustably secured in a common plane parallel to and spaced from the support, the alternate pivots being provided with extensions to carry or guide a plurality of the members to be spaced and stops to limit the adjusting movement in either direction the alternate links of said chains having elongated pivotopenings to permit variable spacing of the pivots therein. 16..In a spacing mechanism, the combination with a frame, of a pair of chains of the sprocket type mounted thereon in spaced relation having alternate pivots extended and slotted to receive and guide slicing blades, the alternate links of said chains .being formed with longitudinally extended pivot seats or openings whereby the spacing of the pivots therein may be varied within fixed limits toward or from each other.

17. A bread slicing machine as described in claim '7, the slotted extensions of the pivot shafts being arranged in opposed pairs and each pair carrying a slicing blade, transverse pins united to the blades near opposite ends thereof, notches in the outer edges of the slotted extensions, U- shaped springs with their ends slotted to straddle the'blades, each having one end indented to engage the adjacent pin in the blade and its opposite end flanged or turned to enter the notch in its, corresponding slotted extension.

v18. A. combination in a bread slicing machine as described in claim 7, said slotted fingers being arrangedqin'spaced pairs, the fingers of each pair being notched on opposite sides, slicing bladeshaving transverse pins rigidly united thereto approximately at each end thereof, U- shapedv springs each having its ends slotted to straddle the blades and carrying an indentation at oneend toengage one of said transverse pins on each side of a given blade and having its opposite'end flanged or turned to enter the adjacent notch in its corresponding finger.

19; In a bread slicing machine, the combination with a support, ofblade carrying means mounted thereon for longitudinal reciprocating travel, including a plurality of spaced, slotted fingers arranged in spaced pairs and notched on opposite sides, transverse pins united to the blades near opposite ends thereof, a plurality of U -shaped springs arranged to straddle the blades, each having one end indented to engage one of said pins and its opposite end flanged or turned to enter thenotch in the corresponding slotted finger to exert pressure upon the pin and uponythe finger in" opposite directions.

2,0.- In a bread'slicing machine having a support, blade carrying means mounted thereon for longitudinal reciprocating travel including a plurality of spaced, slotted fingers arranged in spaced pairs and notched on opposite sides, tensioning. means for the blades comprising transverse pins united to the blades near opposite ends thereof, and a plurality of slotted springs arranged to straddle the blades each having one end indented to engage one of said pins and its opposite end flanged or turned to enter the notch in the corresponding slotted finger to exert' pressure upon the pin and upon the finger in opposite directions.

HARRY J. CRINER. 

